Toilet signal device



G. MIYASAKI.

TOILET SIGNAL DEVICE.

APPLicATloN FILED APR.8.1918.

1,323,539. Patented Dec. 2,1919.

UTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GIICI-IIK-MIYASAKI, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TOILET SIGNAL DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

Application filed April 8, 1918. Serial No. 227,294.

following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved signal device that is particularly adapted for use in public places, hotels, rooming houses, andv all manner of buildings that may be vprovided with a public toilet.

The object is to provide a simple and inexpensive device'that will indicate if the toilet beoccupied or free, and that will in use avoid the annoyance and noise such as usually occurs when thetoilet door is locked against the entrance of a person.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch device that will alternately turn off and on an electric current and a bulb supplied thereby, to thereby alternately light and darken the toilet, and which switch movement will be automatically performed by the opening movement of the door.

rThe invention hereinafter described, while particularly adapted for application to a toilet, or cellar, or other intermittently occupied room or place, may be used and employed for various analogous purposes and in various analogous ways.

A practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: l

Figure l is a plan of the switch elements employed in my device. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the switch and door actuating mechanism therefor. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the switch. Fig. 4 is a fragmental view of a door casing and a door, showing the relative positions of the switch and signal boX.

The present invention embodies an illuminated signal l1, for which a controlling switch is provided, consisting of a switch board 20, of insulation, preferably wood, and provided with the angularly disposed section 21, adapted to be secured to the doorcasing A. On member 20, are mounted the switch terminals 22, 23, and 24, which are connected to the contact plates 25, 26, and 27, mounted on the disk 28. A shaft 29 is iXed to the disk 28, and has mounted thereon the revoiuble ratchet wheel 30, spaced from the disk by the .fixed Sleeve 3,1, and retained in position by the spring 32, interposed between the ratchet wheel andthe retaining nut 33. Oppositely disposed spring contact members 34, and 35, are fixed to the ratchet wheel and rotate therewith, and are adapted to alternately connect plate 25 respectively with plate 26 and 27, as the ratchet wheel is rotated step by step with the opening and closing of the toilet door. Backward rotation of the ratchet wheel is prevented by the spring member 36. In Fig. 3 the contact member 35 is shown in contact with plate 26, and contact member 34in contact with plate 25.

A reciprocating` member 37, provided with a head 38, slides in the bracket supports 39, being normally pressed downward by spring 40, .interposed between the member 38 and bracket'39. A pin 41, iiXed to member 37, and projecting through slot 42 in the support 39, prevents rotation of the member 37. A pawl 43, pivotally connected to the member 37 is retained in engagement with the ratchet wheel by a spring 44, connecting the pin45 on the pawl, and pin 4l. Each movement of the member 37 in an upward direction will actuate the ratchet wheel, and thereby alternately connect plate 25, with plates 26 and 27. A sliding member 46, working in the guide 47, is provided with an inclined face 48, adapted to engage with member 38, and raise the same a predetermined amount, the upward movement being determined by the height of the top face 49, upon which member 38 will slide. A pivotally mounted lever 50, is connected by link 5l to member 46, and has pivotally mounted on one end thereof, the oscillating member 52, adapted to engage with the door B, on the opening movement thereof, the upper end 53, bearing against the lever 50, so that thc mechanism is actuated to operate the switch. As soon as the door is opened suiiiciently to be free from engagement with member 52, the spring` 54 will retract lever 50, moving the sliding member 46 to inoperative position. On the closing. movement of the toilet door, the member 52 will swing so as to allow the door to be closed without actuating the mechanism.

It may be noted that the opening movement of the door will actuate member 46 suiiicient to raise member 38 and thus turn the movable switch elements a predetermined amount, and further Sliding Inovement of member 46, and lever may be made without moving the other parts of the mechanism.

From the foregoing it may be seen that a particular adjustment of the switch mechanism relative to the door that is to operate the same is not necessary.

While simple and eiiicient means are herein provided for accomplishing the objects of the invention and thev elements shown and described are well adapted to serve the purposes for which they are intended, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown in the drawings, but that changes, alterations, and modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims may be made if desired.

.What is claimed is:

l. In an electric switch, a series of conv.tact plates, a rotary bridging element therefor, ratchet means for actuatin the rotary bridging element with an intermittent movement, a vertically reciprocating member to actuate the ratchet means, a horizonally reciprocating member adapted for a varying degree of movement and arranged to actuate the vertically reciprocating member during the initial portion of its horizontal movement, and mechanism for operating the horizontally reciprocating member.

2. In a rotary electric switch, ratchet means for actuating the switch with an intermittent movement, a reciprocating element to operate the ratchet means and having a fixed degree of movement, a reciproeating element to actuate the first-named reciprocating element and having a varying degree of movement, and mechanism to actuate the last-named reciprocating element.

3. In an electric switch, a base formed with angular sections, a ixed circular insulation disk, contact plates mounted on the disk, a ixed shaft projecting from the disk, a ratchet wheel mounted to rotate on the shaft, spring contact elements carried by the ratchet wheel and adapted to form a bridge connection between the contact plates, means for actuating the ratchet wheel step by step in one direction, means for preventing backward rotation of the ratchet wheel, and means for retaining the position of the ratchet wheel.

4. In an electric switch, a base, an insulation disk thereon, contact plates mounted on the disk, one comprising a substantially semieircular segment, the others having a series of interprojecting and alternately disposed se ents, a fixed shaft element extending Iilblm the disk, a bridging element rotatively mounted thereon, spring contact elements carried by the bridging element and adapted to bridge a circuit between the firstnamed segment contact plate and the alternate segments of the last-named contact plates, means for rotating the bridging element with an intermittent step by step movement to connect alternate segments with the first-named segment, means for preventing backward movement of the brid -ng element, and means for retaining theiridging element in the several contact positions.

5. The combination with a rotary electric switch, of a ratchet wheel mounted on the switch, a sliding plunger, a pawl on the sliding plunger in eng vement with the ratchet wheel, a slidin bolt aving an inclined face,

a head on the p unger adapted to engage with the inclined face of the bolt, a pivotally mounted lever, a link connecting the lever and the sliding bolt, and an oscillating door engaging element pivotally mounted on the lever, said oscillating member actuating the lever on the opening movement of the door and swinging to allow the free movement of the door in the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature this 26th day of March, in the year 1918.

GIICHI MIYASAKI.

In presence of- FREDEIuo M. KEENEY, S. HATAYE. 

